Right of Boom Lessons Learned H4D Stanford 2016

Right of Boom [After EOD]
Problem Sponsor: Joint Improvised Threat-Defeat Agency (JIDA) US Army & US Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal US Central Command DIUx Booz Allen Hamilton We seek to advance JIDA’s mission of countering improvised threats by developing systems, deployment strategies, and incentives for allied foreign militaries with the goal of improved intelligence fidelity. We seek to create a live tactical threat toolkit to enable real-time advice from US Explosive Ordnance Officers for the defeat of improvised explosive devices by partner and coalition forces. 124 Total Interviews

DARPA PCAS Team - modifying
existing systems Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Agency - work with technicians who deal with problem day-in day-out General Atomics, Raytheon - contractors already working in this space may be able to provide key insight ARMY Research Lab NAVEODTECHDIV ARMY Asymmetric Warfare Group Usability- ensuring system is applicable to every forward deployment and tactical situation Bridging Gaps – enabling real time dialogue between US and host nation EOD Personnel-centered - creating a system designed around those who need it most Integrated - creating a tool that is an aid, not a hindrance, to time-critical operations Engineers - contractor/DARPA employees may provide technical insight Technicians - connections to those who need this product most Embedded operations need support from those who need product Translation experts - those who do job already Iterate - Multiple simulated field test scenarios with technicians to fit product to need Incorporation - product has many possible futures - can potentially be incorporated into other DoD product needs Primary - JIDA, EOD specialists in recurring forward deployment operations across systems Secondary - Military remote technical communications wings. Software can be co-opted for many different communications missions Fixed: Variable: Software development optimization IT Management/maintenance Deployment training Mission Achievement Criteria Enable clear, safe, common-sense communication of time-sensitive high- stress technical information Real-time IED Defeat Assistance for Coalition and Remote Forces: Week 1 Mission Model Canvas

Week 2: Needed to Get
Out of the Building • Conducted 17 interviews but none of them were with end-users; failing to adhere to methodology •Frustration as we struggled to find EOD officers •Excitement as we finally managed to meet EOD units

Week 3: LTTT Invalidated “The
last thing I’d want while defusing a bomb is a voice in my ear telling me what to do.” – EOD Staff Sergeant discussing reluctance to receive advice through LTTT “That’s what robots are for. We can’t do that with human lives. I can’t imagine me feeling comfortable from 50 kilometers telling someone to cut some wire. That’s scary proposition.” – Deployed EOD 1st Sergeant discussing discomfort with advisory role of LTTT We received a new problem statement from our sponsor that stated the real problem was ensuring sufficient intelligence collection for post-blast analytics.

Week 4: What on Earth
is actually going on? • We tried to work on a new product, but we couldn’t see what was already there, not even an image. • It was almost impossible to get the sponsor to connect us with users of existing application • Frustration as we couldn’t understand why the current applications weren’t working and didn’t know what was broken

Week 5: No Need for
Another App “Yeah, we don’t see anything really wrong with HYBRID -- it’s not at all a bad application.” - JIDA JET Team “Can’t hand out Samsung tablets like candy.” - JIDA JET Team At this point, we were questioning our relevance to our sponsor.

Products & Services Enhanced development
of systems that facilitate IED reporting - Development of products relevant to mission that actively catalyze increased intel gathering - Products that are easily pitched to Host Nation Customer Jobs Produce tech for intel reporting Lack of communication regarding pains between field and state based JIDA Gains Pains Gain Creators Pain Relievers Improved relations with Host Nation forces Useful products to give to Host Nation Development of system that not only overcomes in-theater technical challenges, but also helps incentivize reporting Week 7: Value Proposition Canvas for JIDA J6 (IT & Communications)

Week 7 Onwards: Organizational Learning
• We developed insights regarding the existing solutions and how they connected (or didn’t) • We diagrammed the ideal information workflow • We also discovered JIDA’s internal structure This enabled us to provide recommendations to improve existing solutions and their deployment

Final Hypotheses for JIDA Hypothesis:
JIDA requires greater inter- divisional communication (between J branches) to facilitate the development of effective technical solutions Hypothesis: Current technical solutions, if combined, will provide a solution of equal quality to standalone development in a shorter timeframe Hypothesis: Targeted deployment of HYBRID focusing on units with superior ethos of service in provinces with more IEDs and less militancy will gain more buy-in for HYBRID.

1. Tech integration 2. Deployment
process revamp 3. Smarter development ● Refining technical recommendations (combining Hybrid & Indure, SMS capability) ● Ensuring features added to Hybrid are relevant and targeted ● Solidifying process solutions (best organizational structure practices focusing on information flow & incentivization) ● Further consultation with JIDA on bureaucratic obstacles and key stakeholders for implementation ● Gain JET team perspective for optimal deployment based on realities on the ground (given alternate perspective from JIDA ● Implement lean software development model that is agile + iterative Week 8: Critical Activities Validation from JIDA: •JIDA independently reached many of the same hypotheses via their work with BMNT • We gained significant credibility with JIDA by this point and it was satisfying